Three arrested on conspiracy charges

By Kathie Warco

Staff Writer

From left are Barry Boubacar, Roukayatou Seydou and Issac Kasa, supected of dealing in fraudulent and stolen credit cards.

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A traffic stop on Interstate 70 west near the Beau Street exit in South Strabane Township late Thursday morning ended in the arrest of three people suspected of dealing in fraudulent and stolen credit cards.

Arrested were Isaac Issiag Kasa, 22, of Shawnee, Kan., and Barry Boubacar, 27, and Roukayatou Halidou Seydou, 22, both of the Bronx, N.Y.

During the traffic stop, the trooper observed multiple indicators of criminal activity, including nervousness and conflicting stories. The men indicated the trio were on a long-distance, turnaround trip and were riding in a short-term rental vehicle. Kasa was identified as the person who rented the 2013 Dodge Journey sport utility vehicle. It is not clear who was driving when the vehicle was stopped.

The trooper contacted the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center of the state police and learned that the occupants were under investigation by the U.S. Secret Service and the federal Department of Homeland Security for fraudulent credit cards and gift cards. The trooper also contacted the U.S. Secret Service Fraud Task Force.

Police received permission to search the vehicle. Found inside the vehicle were $10,034 and about 10 gift and credit cards. A small amount of suspected marijuana was found in the vehicle’s console.

Seydou told District Judge Curtis Thompson that she had relatives in Kansas and was just getting a ride.

All three were arraigned before Thompson on charges of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, conspiracy and possession of a small amount of marijuana. They were each placed in the Washington County jail on $25,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday before District Judge Jay Weller.

Eric Zahren, special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh field office of the U.S. Secret Service, did not return a call Friday.